ALBUM REVIEW: The Song of Desolation – Thy Despair
After more than a decade of line up changes and intermittent years on hiatus, THY DESPAIR has finally mustered a full-length record, The Song of Desolation. The Ukrainian band now stands six strong, and has moved away from their doom influenced origins to conjure a fusion of symphonic and black metal.
Fist track, and title of the previous EP of 2018, The Free One is instantly recognisable. It’s symphonic, a huge production of strangled notes through the guitar, relentless drums, and dynamic vocals in a towering arrangement that plays with doom, symphonic metal and black metal. Both clean female vocals and the growled male adds a real layer of duality to the music, the passion and the melancholy of the massive sound THY DESPAIR conjure is unparalleled. For those looking for a real Gothic melodrama in their music, it’s clear from the off this is the album for you this year.
Sabbath takes no time introducing itself either, its main riff is a stabbing attack on the guitar carries the song to real lengths. Swaying between surreal and ethereal to absolutely punishing, with the kick-drum playing with some thrashy dynamics. With the ever more theatrical Fear and Despair, there’s definitely a black metal influence in there that gives a biting bitterness. Things are more twisted and tumbling, the heart of this track beats to a deliciously macabre lyrical performance, the operatic elements clashing with the gnashing guitars.
Burned By Love is another typically operatic affair, with Elin’s vocals belting so impressively it truly overshadows everything else going on in this track. That’s not to say there’s not enough good stuff going on through the musical storytelling being played out through the music itself, as there’s a sweet singing solo that’s more than respectable, but the stand out draw here is definitely what’s being done vocally. Interestingly, Last Breath feels like a song of two halves. It’s first half has a pretty nostalgic feel to it, harking back to the big, bombastic tones of heavy Gothic sounds in the eighties, with a hard push into the keys and the more romantic sentiments of symphonic music. The second half has a modern death and black metal edge that really changes the feel of everything. Overall, it’s a pretty big sound throughout, with the polished production really making an impact on the overall impact.
However, War unfortunately, for all its use of a harmonic movements through the melody, feels a bit dull, keeping on a trill melodic line and a consistent double kick. It’s not expressive enough to capture the attention and THY DESPAIR doesn’t make enough attempts to make the sound they play with their own. Taking the tone down a little, Army of Dead is as expected, a much more intimate affair in its introduction. However, it blossoms into a chugging hulking song that might overuse its pinch harmonics and slips into some clichés, but otherwise pushes into some heavy rhythmic work that places into the bands doom origins. The seeming appearance of a breakdown is also an unusual development and a nice attempt at something unusual in a symphonic realm.
Another opportunity for the vocals to shine, Falling Star is serene as much as it is dark and bleak. This is quintessential blending of black metal and Gothic beauty, with such a smooth transition from one to another, and the amalgamation of the two results in a really beautiful arrangement. The guitar work is also exceptional, and finds its moment just as adeptly as the vocals. The final two outings on The Song of Desolation are both just over five minutes, and in that time, THY DESPAIR really look to push into the dramatic motions of Ghost Rider and Falcon. Both deliver some intense black metal vibes, and really have some fun until the last moment, hamming up the dramatics and delivering some top quality vocals and fitting flare from the overall band.
THY DESPAIR have worked up a worthy first full length in The Song of Desolation. It’s packed with a huge sound, a brilliant production and enough melodrama to satisfy any symphonic and black metal fan. While there is room for improvement, what’s on offer is huge fun and spices things up enough to make a statement that THY DESPAIR are ones to keep track of.
Rating: 6/10
The Song of Desolation is out on May 8th via Rockshots Records.
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